Stachitas' career marked by rampant success

Two years ago, Ted Stachitas took the reins of a Nease offense from a guy who was recently named one of the top 100 players in the history of Florida high school football.

After this season, it could be argued that Stachitas has been even more successful.

The former understudy to Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow carved out an amazing prep career himself, leading Nease to the Class 4A state title game for the second straight time this year. For guiding the Panthers to a 13-win season and a runner-up finish in the state, Stachitas is the St. Augustine Record St. Johns County Offensive Player of the Year.

"I was very blessed to have a guy like Ted," Nease coach Craig Howard said. "I think the thing that ultimately judges (quarterbacks) is if they win or lose."

If that's the case, Stachitas has to like where he ranks among the best prep quarterbacks from this area. He was 2-0 as a starter his sophomore season, 14-1 last year and 12-2 (he didn't start against St. Augustine) as a senior. That's an impressive mark of 28-3 for his career.

If that doesn't sound spectacular enough, consider that two of those losses were in state championship games, and the other was at Madison County, which won the Class 2A state title. In those three losses, the entire margin of victory was 13 points. So he was about two touchdowns away from perfection.

Still, it's been hard for Stachitas not to focus on the few losses. He's the first to say that the team starts the season thinking about state titles.

It didn't quite happen the last two years, but it's hard not to feel Stachitas and the Panthers accomplished enough to be proud.

"We had a great season," Stachitas said. "I'm happy with the way we played. Overall, we did really well."

Stachitas' numbers were not the same mind-boggling stats Nease fans are used to seeing, but compared to just about anyone but himself, Stachitas' feats were amazing.

He threw for 2,257 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for another 845 yards and 15 scores.

And he did it on a team that had just one other returning offensive starter in Larson Miniard and he switched positions.

He also dealt with some serious injuries, although you'd never know it talking to him.

Stachitas sprained his knee in an Oct. 5 game against Ridgeview.

He came in for just a handful of plays the next week in a victory against St. Augustine but was back as the starter against Lake City Columbia.

Playing with a bulky brace, Stachitas struggled to stay in games the rest of the season.

Opponents regularly brought fierce pressure to slow the Nease attack. But Stachitas finished every game after the St. Augustine win.

"It was frustrating at times when I felt limited," Stachitas said. "Because I was limited, I just did what I could."

Even after suffering eight sacks in the championship game, Stachitas stayed in there and passed for 172 yards and a score against a nationally-ranked Miami Washington team.

Stachitas had been knocked out of the semifinal game against Pace several times the previous week.

Although he wouldn't talk about it, Stachitas was greatly limited in practice leading up to the championship game.

Howard said Stachitas was so banged up from the Pace game a four-overtime slugfest that he couldn't even throw in practice.

It showed against Washington, which had allowed only 20 points in its four other playoff games.

"I thought he played real well," Howard said. "When he couldn't throw a pass all week at practice and then to go out there and not complain a bit just go out and compete ..."

It's quite a legacy Stachitas leaves at Nease before heading off to Wake Forest. There are the state title disappointments, but Stachitas knows he was fortunate to play for a program with so many talented teammates and coaches.

"I'm very grateful," Stachitas said. "They (the coaches) treat us like we're their sons.